Wha' You Need to Know
Everything you're wondering about IslandBarter, Trade Dollars, and how the exchange works. Straight talk, no runaround.
Trade Dollars & Membership
Trade Dollars (T$) are the currency of the IslandBarter exchange. They're valued 1:1 with US Dollars — so T$50 equals $50 in value. You earn Trade Dollars when you provide goods or services to another member, and you spend them when you receive goods or services. They're not cryptocurrency, not gift cards, and not funny money. They're a simple unit of account that tracks the value of what you've traded.
Zero cash. Membership costs T$20 per month, paid in Trade Dollars — not US Dollars. When you sign up, you get a T$100 signup bonus deposited into your account. That covers your first five months of membership automatically. After that, the T$20/month comes from Trade Dollars you've earned by trading. No credit card required for membership. No USD fees. Ever.
A credit card is required for identity verification only — you will never be charged real dollars. All membership fees are paid in Trade Dollars, not cash. Your T$20/month comes out of your Trade Dollar balance, never your bank account or credit card.
Your credit card is required for identity verification only. You will never be charged real dollars. All fees — including your T$20/month membership — are paid in Trade Dollars. No cash, no USD charges, no surprises. The card simply confirms you are who you say you are, which keeps the exchange trustworthy for everyone.
Scale and flexibility. When you trade informally with your neighbor, you're limited to what they need and what they offer. If you fix ten air conditioners but only need one haircut, you're stuck. With IslandBarter, you earn Trade Dollars from one member and spend them with any other member in the directory. Your plumber's haircut pays for your dinner out. The restaurant's landscaping covers their accounting. Hundreds of businesses, all connected through one exchange.
How Trading Works
Simple: provide your goods or services to another IslandBarter member. Fix their car, cut their hair, cook their lunch, design their website — whatever you do. When the trade is recorded, Trade Dollars are deposited into your account. You charge the same price you'd charge in cash. A $50 haircut is a T$50 haircut.
Anything another member offers. The directory includes restaurants, mechanics, barbers, plumbers, electricians, web designers, accountants, landscapers, caterers, tutors, photographers — and more joining every week. Browse the directory, find what you need, and trade. If you need something we don't have yet, tell our broker and we'll recruit a member who provides it.
No! That's the whole point. When someone serves you, Trade Dollars leave your account. When you serve someone, Trade Dollars enter your account. You can earn from one member and spend with a completely different one. It's a community pool, not a one-for-one swap.
Absolutely. Many trades are a mix. A $100 service might be T$60 and $40 cash — it's up to you and the other member to work it out. The exchange records the Trade Dollar portion; the cash part is between you two.
No cap on earnings. The more you serve other members, the more you earn. We actually encourage active trading — a healthy exchange has Trade Dollars moving, not sitting idle. Earn and spend, earn and spend.
Tell us. Our broker actively recruits new members based on what existing members need. If you need a plumber and we don't have one yet, we'll go find one. The exchange grows based on member demand — your request helps the whole community.
Who Can Join
Both! If you have a skill or service to offer, you can join. You don't need a storefront, a business license, or a website. Freelancers, side-hustlers, and skilled individuals are all welcome. The only requirement is that you have something of value to trade — your time, your skills, your products.
No problem at all. When you join, you get a listing in the IslandBarter directory — that IS your online presence for the exchange. It includes your business name, what you offer, your island, and contact info. Other members find you through our directory, not through your own website. Plenty of our best members don't have websites.
Yes. IslandBarter serves all three US Virgin Islands. The directory lets members filter by island, so you can find trading partners right in your community. Some services naturally work across islands (web design, consulting, remote support), while others are island-specific (plumbing, landscaping). The exchange handles both.
Contact us immediately. Our broker mediates all disputes — listens to both sides, reviews the facts, and finds a fair resolution. Most issues are resolved within 48 hours. Members who consistently provide poor service can be suspended or removed. On an island this size, your reputation is everything — and the exchange takes that seriously.
The Official Stuff
Yes, 100%. Barter exchanges are recognized and regulated by the IRS under Section 6045 of the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS specifically defines "barter exchange" as an organization with members who trade goods and services among themselves. We're required to file 1099-B forms reporting member trade income — which we do. Barter exchanges have been operating legally in the United States for decades.
Yes. The IRS considers barter exchange transactions as taxable income, valued at fair market value. We provide a 1099-B at the end of each year reporting your Trade Dollar earnings. The good news: since every transaction is tracked through the exchange, your records are clean and ready to hand to your accountant. No guesswork. Consult your tax professional for specifics about your situation.
Yes. You can cancel with 30 days' written notice. If you have a positive Trade Dollar balance, you'll have 60 days to spend it. If you have a negative balance (you've spent more than you've earned), you'll need to fulfill it through service delivery or settle it in US Dollars at the 1:1 rate. We don't want anyone to leave, but we won't hold you hostage either.
IslandBarter is operated by Terry Arthur Consulting, a web development and consulting firm based on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. We're not a mainland corporation or a tech startup — we're your neighbors, building something for the community we live in.
Still Got Questions?
Reach out. We'll talk you through it — no pressure, no sales pitch. Just straight answers.